Light indicator for reflector lamps



PMM@

` 1,644,207 ot 4 1927 A. sT. CLAIRE LIGH'l1 INDICATOR FOR REFLECTOR LAMPS Filed Sept. 14, 1325 Patented Oct. 4, 1927.

'UNITED STATES ALEXANDER ST.' CLAIRE, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

IiIGrI-IT INDICATOR FOR REFLECTOR LAMPS.

Application filed September 14, 1925. Serial No. 56,198.

This invention is applicable to various uses, but is more particularly intended for use on headlight andtail light lamps for motor vehicles.

An object of this invention is to provide a device, which is easily applied to the lamps of automobiles and the like to enable the driver or user ol' the light to be constantly` advised as to whether the light is or is not lit.

In carrying out this invention I provide holes in the lamp reflector and housing or bodyV and mount a translucent lens inthe hole in the housing or body.

The lens, the holes and the luminary are arranged sufficiently in line with each other so that the light rays from the luminary will illuminate the lens to let the driver of the vehicle see whether or not the light is lit.

An object is to provide a. cheap and simple device of this character, that can be applied from the outside to lamps now in use, as well as in the original manufacture of the lamp.

In carrying out this invention7 I provide a bushing adapted to carry a translucent lens in one end and adapted to be inserted through a hole in the lamp housing or body and to be held tightly therein Without disturbing the inner mechanism of the lamp,

` and which will be illuminated whenever the lamp is lit.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention may appear from the accompanying drawing, the subjoined detailed description and theappended claims.

The accompanying drawing illustrates the invention in the form at present deemed most desirable.

Figure 1 is a view of the rear of a reflector lamp supplied with my invention and mounted on an automobile, a fragment of which is shown.

Fig. 2 is a view of the invention on a larger scale applied'to a reflector lamp which is mainly shownin vertical axial section. y

Fig. 3 is a rear end view of the device on a larger scale and constructed in accord ance with this invention.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the device shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a view of the inside and of the invention shown in the previous views.

Fig. 6 is an elevation mainly in longitu-l dinal section on line m6, Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a detached view of the lens holder.

The housing or body 1 may be of any usual construction and may contain the usual reflector 2 and luminary 3.

The housing is shown provided witha hole 4, and the reflector with a hole 5; the holes 4 and 5 may be alined with the luminary 3,

-or alined as shown in Fig. 2.

6 isy a tubular bushing, which may be made ot brass or any other suitable material, and

' is expanded at 7 to forma seat 8 for the' lens 9 which may be of glass or other translucent material, and of red orgreen or any other color determined upon.

The lens is held in the seat 8 by the edges 110 of the seatclamped over the rim of the ens.

The bushing is provided with tongues 12 struck out from the Walls of the bushing and adapted to serve as retainers for a locking plate lwhich is yieldingly held toward the inner end of the bushing by a spring 14, which in turn is'held by the cap 15.

Said cap 15 has-side walls 16 telescoping with like walls 17 of the locking plate 13, and the lspring 14 is enclosed within the telescoping walls of the cap 15 and the locking plate 13; the spring at all times tending to force cap' 15 and locking plate 17 apart.

The spring 14 is adapted to allow the cap and locking plate to telescope suliiciently to accommodate the thickness of the lamp body or housing l between said locking plate and the projecting ends of the tongues or retainers 12 when the tube 6 is inserted into the lamp body 1. The resiliency of the spring forcing the locking plate against the lamp body on one side, and the cap bearing against the expanded portion of the tube at 7, tends to withdraw the tube 6 through the hole 4, and this causes the ends of the retainers 12 to bear vagainst the inner wall of the lamp body, so that the device is securely in place.

I claim:

1. The lamp indicating appliance set forth comprising a bushing provid-ed with a translucent lens and with retainers adapted to engage a lamp casing through which the bushing may be inserted; a locking plate and cap telescoping with each other on the bushing ;v

and means to yieldingly hold the cap and locking plate apart.

2. The combination with a reflector lamp casing; of a light indicating appliance, comprising a bushing adapted to be inserted through a hole in the casing and havin one end expand-ed t0 form a seat; a trans ucent lens in ysaid seat; la locking plate and a cap telescopicaflly connected, said .plate `and cap being disposed between the casing and the expanded end oi? said bushing; retainers on the bushing, and a spring to hold the cap toward-the retainers to clasp vthe casing.

3. The combination with a reflector lamp` the tongues; and ya spring between the capv and the locking` plate -to hold jthe locking pla-te toward ythe cap tor the purpose of engagng the casing'.

4. The combination with a reflector lamp casing; oit a light indicating attachment cornprisi-.ng la tubular member 4:adapted to be passed through an opening in the lamp casing, saidtubular member having an lexpanded end portion formed with a flange; a translucent lens mounted on' 'the expanded end p portion of said` tubular member andV being retained in posit-ion by said flange; a cap Vand flocking,l .plate mounted on said tubular member between said expanded rend of said member and casing; resilient tongues struck out from said `tubular Ymlenrber and lad-apted for ei-igagement with said vlamp casing, Vwhen the tube is inserted through the opening therein, and a spring interposed between fsaid cap and 4locking plate for :urging the :said tubular mem'fber outwardly lto hold said tongues in `engagement, with the .lamp casing. En testimony whereof, l have hereunto \set my 4hand at Los Angeles,Californiafthis 4th day of `September 1925.

ALEXANDER ST. -CLAIR-E. 

